[starfilly117]

i have found some nice saddle on ebay to look at, but i don't know which one is the best quality for the price...please help!

my horse has wide withers and i understand measuring them is the best way, but input on which one might fit him bast would be great too!

1. Collegiate http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

2. Courbette http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

3. Stubben http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

4. Crosby http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

or if anyone has any other suggestions under $400 price range! wide tree, leather, good condition, 17 or 17.5 seat. one i can jump in, with some form of padding (so maybe not a close contact?)

...here are some pics to get an idea of his withers. sorry they're not that great :/

[hamerface]

hmmm

Here are some things to consider before you go looking on ebay. Believe me I have been there, and I have bought a few saddles that simply didn't work.

Firstly, you should either find a pro saddle fitter, or someone that knows how to fit them very well, a good Pony Club, leader someone at a local tack shop that knows a lot about saddle fitting, or a coach.

I would recommend having yourself and your horse fitted to a couple of different saddles, find what works for both of you. Once you have narrowed down what you are looking for, (for you and your horse) I would then begin an ebay, tacktrader craigslist etc search. Certain styles and types will fit him better than others, and it is never good to guestimate the tree size you need.

Ebay tips: Be cautious of anyone who will not send additional photos. Ask if refunds/returns are accepted. Be cautious of anyone who will not accept a return barring a broken, crooked or cracked tree or any other major damage not noted. Some individuals will use ebay as a means of unloading a saddle they couldn't sell otherwise. Be cautious of saddle packages that seem too good to be true, it ads to the shipping costs, and can be a way of sellers tricking buyers into thinking they are getting a ton of useful stuff with their saddle. Usually it is to mask something.

First my dear,
get your pony fitted. I am not saying don't browse ebay now, but DO NOT buy anything until you know what he needs as far as fit is concerned. Browsing ebay now can help you figure out what certain types of saddles will sell for price wise.

Good luck!



Lots of members here have pretty good deals on saddles as well.

[JBandRio]

Can you try any of those saddles from a tack shop around you? They're all shaped a bit differently, and some just won't fit.

My initial impression is that the curviness of the Stuuben will probably be the closest, but that's only that 1 dimension.

[crayon]

I have a saddle if you might be interested. It's a Collegiate Alumnus. Very supple leather, in nice condition. The seat is 17" Wide tree. Serial # is 6522. It didn't fit my horse quite right (lol. no saddle does). But I need to sell it so that I can afford another saddle.

I can't sell it with the irons, but possibly the leathers. Or I might be able to come up with a pair of steel irons that I have somewhere. I can get you a front view picture and any other pictures you want if you're interested. I haven't decided to a price yet either.

[hamerface]

If Crayon can't get you Irons, I have a set I'm not using that I would be happy to send your way.

[starfilly117]

well....let me know when you decide on a price!!! i am definitely interested in the irons too

[crayon]

Well, you could probably just make me an offer. lol. I haven't even decided on a new saddle yet but I have to sell this one soon. I'll shoot you a PM with the pictures I took today.

[Tack Collector]

Ebay tips: Be cautious of anyone who will not send additional photos. Good advice. Beware of fuzzy or incomplete photos. Insist on seeing near side, off side, panels, billets, seat, all in good resolution so that nothing is being hidden by a fuzzy picture, or left to the imagination.
Ask if refunds/returns are accepted. Be cautious of anyone who will not accept a return barring a broken, crooked or cracked tree or any other major damage not noted.(see comments, below) Some individuals will use ebay as a means of unloading a saddle they couldn't sell otherwise. And that's not always a bad thing. There may just be no local market for that type or size of saddle, but nothing wrong with the saddle. eBay gets the product to the buyers that want it, and sometimes, they are several states away.

Usually, when I sell a saddle on ebay, in particular, it's not returnable. I don't want my money and time tied up by buyers who just want tor "try" something, then send it back. Or those who want a better saddle t use for a special show or event and then return it. Or parents who buy what they can afford and what they think meets the needs, only to have the trainer say it's the wrong saddle for the job, and on and on.

Ebay charges a pretty hefty fee, especially for items sold from stores. Then PayPal charges me an additional 3.9% fee and they keep that 3.9% unless I give the seller a full refund. Well, if I give 'em a *full* refund, then I just ate the $30 - $75 it took to ship the saddle one way, and gave the seller a Scot-free trial! Plus, when I get the money for the sale, I don't want to have to hold it for the probably 7 to 11 day turnaround that it can take to the saddle to the buyer, let them have 3 days trial, and then ship it back to me. When I get the payment, I want to keep it, not get the saddle back.

Additionally, the saddles I sell are in very nice if not like-new condition. They get scratches, scuff marks, stains, and other blemishes every trip out. Therefore, for a number of reasons, I usually do not offer a return. Lately, I've sold a couple via the Internet and agreed to a return but I'd charge a 25% restocking fee plus the buyer is paying the shipping both ways. I got really tired of all the tire kickers with PayPal and a credit card, who'd buy something they can't afford, use it for week or so, and send it back in obviously worse condition than it went out. It only took one or two for me to say Final Sale --- No Returns.

[hamerface]

Originally Posted by Tack Collector

Usually, when I sell a saddle on ebay, in particular, it's not returnable. I don't want my money and time tied up by buyers who just want tor "try" something, then send it back. Or those who want a better saddle t use for a special show or event and then return it. Or parents who buy what they can afford and what they think meets the needs, only to have the trainer say it's the wrong saddle for the job, and on and on.

Ebay charges a pretty hefty fee, especially for items sold from stores. Then PayPal charges me an additional 3.9% fee and they keep that 3.9% unless I give the seller a full refund. Well, if I give 'em a *full* refund, then I just ate the $30 - $75 it took to ship the saddle one way, and gave the seller a Scot-free trial! Plus, when I get the money for the sale, I don't want to have to hold it for the probably 7 to 11 day turnaround that it can take to the saddle to the buyer, let them have 3 days trial, and then ship it back to me. When I get the payment, I want to keep it, not get the saddle back.

Additionally, the saddles I sell are in very nice if not like-new condition. They get scratches, scuff marks, stains, and other blemishes every trip out. Therefore, for a number of reasons, I usually do not offer a return. Lately, I've sold a couple via the Internet and agreed to a return but I'd charge a 25% restocking fee plus the buyer is paying the shipping both ways. I got really tired of all the tire kickers with PayPal and a credit card, who'd buy something they can't afford, use it for week or so, and send it back in obviously worse condition than it went out. It only took one or two for me to say Final Sale --- No Returns.

All of this is definitely fair.
I make sure to ask, that if something is not disclosed or that if the tree is compromised can I return it. It sounds like you are a very contentious seller, but not everyone is as honest.
I see where you are coming from, and I have never returned a saddle simply because I couldn’t afford it, or because it didn’t fit. I am aware of those risks.

Most sellers if you explain that you are going to have the tree checked before you even ride in it, are more than happy to accept a return should it prove to be broken or compromised in some way. J

I didn’t mean to suggest that any seller who won’t accept returns shouldn’t be on your personal sellers list, but rather was offering a suggestion to avoid some very sketchy sellers.

Great post though! It is always good to see the sellers perspective as well.


Like any returns, the item should return EXACTLY how it left, no if ands or buts.

[starfilly117]

i really like getting both sides i have been in the same boat, buying a used crosby and just had the issue that it didnt fit so i had to resell it. i got lucky and the buyer liked the saddle, but it would be a sticky situation should she try to return it!!

i've got my eye on some saddles on ebay so *fingers crossed* !!
...in the event the one i decide to get doesnt fit, i will just resell it (and hope it goes for the same price i bought it for lol)...i dont have the resources, time, nor $ to get my horse fitted (i dont think there's even a tack store within a reasonable distance of where i am to "trial") so my only choice really is trial and error :/